Using information technology to reduce asthma disparities in underserved populations: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Pediatric Asthma Management
• Health Literacy Research

Background:

• Low health literacy is a key factor in poor asthma control.
• Information technology (IT) can improve healthcare equity and reduce disparities.
• Addressing limited English proficiency and health literacy is crucial for effective pediatric asthma care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an interactive, computer-based questionnaire for assessing childhood asthma symptoms.
• To assess the usability and effectiveness of an electronic asthma screening questionnaire (ASQ) for parents with limited health literacy and/or limited English proficiency.

Main Methods:

• Randomized controlled trial comparing electronic (tablet-based, video, touchscreen) and paper-and-pencil versions of the ASQ.
• Participants chose their preferred language (English or Spanish).
• Reliability assessed by comparing self-assessments to a nurse-guided interview (gold standard); usability and satisfaction also measured.

Main Results:

• The electronic ASQ showed significantly higher concordance with the nurse interview (68%) compared to the paper ASQ (54%).
• Parents using the electronic ASQ reported high satisfaction (100%) and ease of use (96%).
• Participant demographics included a majority of Spanish-speaking Hispanic mothers with limited education and income, highlighting the need for accessible tools.

Conclusions:

• Interactive IT tools, like the electronic ASQ, can effectively assess asthma symptoms at a manageable cost.
• This technology has the potential to overcome barriers related to English proficiency and health literacy.
• Implementing such tools can improve access to care and asthma management for underserved populations.